Islamabad: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has expressed fear that the order of the 7-member bench may not expire like the Punjab election.
Speaking about the Supreme Court hearing petitions challenging the trial of civilians in military courts, Sanaullah told the National Assembly on Friday that according to the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, three senior judges on a nine-member bench was not formed. Hearing of cases related to military courts. He said that those approaching the Supreme Court to challenge the trials of civilians in military courts are pursuing their political goals. He alleged that the petitioners had met a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party leader and a senior judge of the Supreme Court before filing the case, asserting that the bench formation was discussed during the meeting. Sanaullah also mentioned an audio leak, asserting that a requisite bench was constituted to secure a favorable verdict. The federal minister said that the court cannot stay a law which is currently in the process of being passed, doing so would be against the constitution. The minister stressed the importance of courts working within the scope of the law and the constitution of the country. Rana Sanaullah expressed the expectation that the decision of the Supreme Court regarding the trial of civilians in military courts should be in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Pakistan. The Interior Minister stressed the importance of bringing those responsible for the attack on military installations and the desecration of martyrs’ memorials to justice. He confirmed the nation’s lack of sympathy for those involved in the May 9 incidents and demanded their accountability.
Addressing the National Assembly, he said that only 12 of the 350 Pakistanis aboard the boat that sank in the sea near Greece survived. The minister said that 281 affected families in Pakistan have approached the government for assistance, due to which a special desk has been set up to meet their needs. He told the House that the authorities have taken DNA from 193 families. Additionally, a special committee headed by a grade 22 officer was formed to investigate the incident on the directives of the Prime Minister. Giving further details of the recent Greek boat tragedy, the minister said that on June 10, a boat with a capacity of 400 people was forced to put 700 people on board. The Interior Minister said that investigations are underway regarding the use of legal documents and visas by Pakistani citizens traveling to countries like the United Arab Emirates, Libya and Egypt and then going to Europe on illegal documents.
Sanaullah told the House that amendments have been proposed in certain laws to provide exemplary punishment to those involved in the heinous crime of human trafficking and endangering the lives of job seekers abroad. Sanaullah expressed concern that according to the available data for the last five years, no person involved in this heinous crime has been adequately punished due to the shortcomings of the relevant laws. The Home Minister said that it was unfortunate that some of the arrested human traffickers got bail from the courts and some liaised with the victim’s families. He said that amendments have been proposed in certain laws to give exemplary punishment to those involved in the heinous crime of human trafficking and endangering the lives of job seekers abroad. He assured the House that any negligence on the part of the authorities in Pakistan will not be tolerated. He added that the committee is expected to make detailed recommendations, which will be approved by the government later.
The interior minister further alleged that former chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi was guilty of corruption during his tenure and alleged that he was given special favor by the courts.
